Norman ‘Red’ Franklin (December 13, 1911 – May 16, 1947) was a key member of Oregon State's "Ironmen" football team who went on to play in the NFL.
Born in Rhode Island, Franklin played high school football in Long Beach, CA before being recruited to Oregon State College by Coach Paul Schissler. He would play halfback (which included throwing the ball in that era) defense, returned kicks and punted.
It was the early days of the Depression and putting athletic teams on the field was difficult in the Willamette Valley. Franklin played one season under Schissler (1932) and saw even more action when line coach Lon Stiner took over after Schissler refused to take a pay cut. Stiner was outstanding at "finding a way" and he inspired Oregon State teams to do more with less.
1933 was a breakout season for OSU, despite having a roster that became depleted by injuries. By week six, the starting eleven players were to only ones available to face a powerhouse USC team at Multnomah Stadium in Portland. The "Iron Men", led by Franklin's 48 yards rushing, tied the trojans 0-0 and stayed undefeated. Later in the season, Stiner took the Beavers on a train ride to New York where they upset a powerful Fordham team 9-6. Franklin scored the only OSC touchdown on a 94-yard kickoff return, his second of the season.
Writers described him as "The red headed riot from Long Beach" for his big plays. That national exposure helped him earn All-America honors. The Beavers were a combined 13-14-4 in his three seasons. Franklin also starred for the track team, running a 9.9 100-yard race.
In the NFL, Franklin started nine games at tailback for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935 and played in three more games for the team the next two years, retiring with 366 yards and four touchdowns on 119 carries.
Red Franklin was inducted into the Oregon State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.